Two narrow forms of the golden-scaled male fern were found during the Victorian fern era which were counterparts to Dryopteris filix-mas 'Barnesii'. The form known as 'Stableri' has its origins with x complexa and the 'Pinderii' form came from affinis subsp. affinis according to Dryopteris taxonomist C. Fraser-Jenkins. There is a crisped form of 'Stableri' which we received from Holland in which I found some plants reverted back to 'Stableri' and grew this population. The crisped 'Stableri' is being marketed by the Dutch as 'Angustata Crispata' but there is no historical precedence for this name. However, C. F. J. calls it 'Stableri Heerlen or Meerien (his writing is very difficult to decipher) presumably after a continental grower. Whatever the nomenclature behind this form it is an outstanding contribution to the garden especially in the mixed perennial border with its upright narrow architecture that blends well with all sorts of floppy bloomers in need of physical support. The fronds are three to four inches wide at the center of their lanceolate length. The pinnules are more rounded with slightly undulate edges than the usual squared-off precision of the species.

Frond Condition: Semi-evergreen
Mature Height: 3-5'
Origin: England
Cultural Requirements: Some Shade, Full Shade, Evenly Moist, Slightly Moist, Dryish
USDA Zones: 5,6,7,8,9